Fabric stretching frame



July 21, 1942. A. R..wADE

FABRIC STRETCHING FRAME Filed April 18, 1940 .w es I3 Tl-a Lno HUI?. Q4 I9 al 527 WEF/77 f zo z2 26 'l-T-g, |524 ze ATTORNEY Patented July 2l, 1942 circo STATES'PATENT OFFICE FABRIC STRETCHING FRAME Alvin R. Wade, Battle Creek, Mich. Application April 18, 1940, Serial No. 330,354

5 Claims. /(Cl. LIKS- 24) The present invention relates broadly to fabric stretching frames, and in its specific phases to frames particularly adapted for use in stretching rugs.

Rugs of the types commonly used in homes :f

shrink gradually during use so that a conventional 9 x 12 foot rug, for instance, may shrink varying amounts up to approximately one foot in length. When such rugs are sent to a rug cleaner for recleaning and sizing, there are two established practices which are followed. The cheaper practice involves washing the rug, sizing its back while wet, and then allowing same to dry while loosely spread out on the floor or suspended from one end. This procedure leaves the rug undersize approximately the same amount as it was when taken to the cleaner. The second standard procedure involves, in addition, the stretching of the rug while wet, following which it is sized and .allowed to dry. The stretching of a rug under these conditions is universally accomplished by spreading same on the floor after washing, and then nailing one end thereof to the floor. The employee who is to take care of the rug stretching, then kneels on the rug intermediate of its ends, and adjacent the unnailed end of same, and presses into the warp of the rug at one corner thereof, the narrow comb-like end of an instrument which is padded at the other end and commonly known as a bumper or kicken He then bumps the end of this bumper with his knee, thus causing the rug to stretch slightly between its free end and the point where he is kneeling. To maintain this small amount of localized stretching, he immediately nails the end of the carpet to the floor at the stretched point. This alternate stretching and nailing is continued across the whole end of the rug with the result that the rug is slightly stretched so as to take up part of the shrinkage which has occurred under conditions of use. This procedure not only does not stretch the rug back to the original size, but presents the difficulty of the comb-like end of the bumper injuring or breaking the warp of the rug, and many times even tearing out portions of the rug nap. With the rug nailed to the floor raccording to this standard practice, it dries very slowly, thus requiring a plant with a large floor area if extensive rug cleaning is to be carried on. In any event when rugs have been washed, they must be allowed to dry without the nap face of the rug resting against any protruding ridges or braces intermediate the ends of the rug, since it is common knowledge that if such does happen, it will cause the contacting portion of the nap to be compressed and leave a correspending mark on the nap of the rug which can not be brushed out after the rug has dried.

Accordingly, among theobjects of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable length fabric stretching frame, one end of which is xedly hinged to the other end of the frame which carries an adjustable position crossbar.

Another object is to provide an adjustable length fabric stretching frame with stable automatic locking hinge joints.

Another object is to provide a fabric stretching frame with non-rotatable end members carrying suitably fastened pins for anchoring the ends of the fabric to be stretched.

A further object is to provide hinged guard members for covering the points of the pins on the fabric stretching frame.

A still further object is to provide one of the end crossbars of the fabric stretching frame with means for sliding same endwise on said frame and anchoring same thereto at suitably spaced intervals.

A still further object is to provide a rug stretching frame which is easy to operate, eliminates the use of rug anchoring tacks, permits stretching the rug substantially to its full size after washing, and loosens the pack pile of the rug while stretching the warp evenly without breaking same, thus permitting the sizing to penetrate into the warp better, and at the same time promoting faster drying action.

Still further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, lconsists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for `carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 shows a perspective assembly View of one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged side View of one of the automatic locking hinge joints shown in the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section view of the hinge joint as taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section view of the hinge joint las taken along line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section View of a modified form of T-member adapted for use at the ends of the adjustable end member of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section View of the adjustable end member as taken along line 6 5 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional assembly view of a modified form of the pivoted end of the fabric stretching frame illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 cf the drawing, the fabric stretching assembly I is provided with hinge members 2 and 3, one end of each of which is joined respectively to arms 4 and 5 of a swingable substantially U-shaped assembly 6. The other end of hinges 2 and 3 are respectively joined to extending arms 'I and 8 on which a slidable crossbar 9 is adjust-ably mounted. While the end of U-shaped assembly 5 may be spaced Various distances from hinges 2 and 3 and adjustable crossbar 9 likewise spaced at various distances from hinges 2 and 3 without departing from the spirit of the present invention, a convenient construction for my stretching device involves the placing of the hinges 2 and 3 approximately two thirds of the distance from the end carrying crossbar 9 to the end of U-shaped assembly 6.

In order to provide satisfactory rigidity at the hinge joints when the fabric stretching frame is straightened out to stretch a piece of fabric, the hinges must be well made and of ample strength to withstand sidewise bending loads without distortion which would interfere with free hinging action. One very satisfactory construction of this type is illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4, wherein the female portion III of the hinge is provided with a recess I I into which tongue I2 of male portion I3 is adapted to freely but closely fit. Hinge pin I4 is adapted to join female portion I to male portion I3 so that saine will operate as a hinge in conventional manner. Recess I I is provided at its upper edge with a shoulder I5 against which the end of tongue I2 is adapted to contact for rigidity when the hinge is in its straight or unbroken position. The underface I6 of tongue I2, adjacent the end thereof, is preferably cut back so as to allow the hinge to be flexed about hinge pin I4 over a Considerable range without the end of tongue I2 passing out of the bottom of recess I I. This type of construction prevents the end cf the tongue from projecting so that it might be injured or in turn injure the oor upon which the fabric stretching frame is being used. To permit the anchoring of the hinge in its straight or unbroken position, a pair of locking dogs II and I8 are provided, and these in turn fit bores I9 and 20 respectively, each of which has continuous aligned sections in both the female portion I0 and male portion I3 of the hinge member. For convenience of manipulating the locking dogs I'I and I8, projecting pins 2I and 22, or their equivalent, are joined thereto, and project through slots 23 and 24 in the corresponding sides of male member I3. To facilitate the fastening of locking dogs I'I and I8 in retracted position, slots 23 and 24 may be provided with locking pockets 25 and 26 into which the pins 2I and 22 respectively may be turned and held. Compression springs 21 and 28 in bores I9 and 20 act to project locking dogs Il and I8 in endwise direction for facilitating the locking of the hinge in unbroken position. The projecting ends of locking dogs I'I and I 8 are preferably rounded, and the upper part 29 at the end of female portion I0 curved to form a free sliding path for the rounded ends of the locking dogs when they are retracted, but not locked in that position, and the male and female parts of the hinge rotated with respect to hinge pin I4. The term fabric as used herein is to be considered as broadly relating to materials which can be stretched in accordance with the present invention, and specifically such materials as rugs, rug pads, cloth curtains, draperies, and the like.

The slidable crossbar 9 (Figures 1 and 6) is provided with a lengthwise extending member, preferably in the form of a hollow tube 3U, on the ends of which are anchored substantially T-shaped members 3I and 32 by means respectively of rivets 33 and 34, or the like. These T-shaped members are adapted to slide endwise on extending arms l' and 8 so as to provide lengthwise adjustability of the fabric stretching frame. Said T-shaped members may be in the form of standard pipe Ts which have been bored to provide a satisfactory sliding fit lengthwise of arms I and 8, but in preferred construction they are approximately two inches longer than standard Ts of the same size since this increases the rigidity of the assembly which is of definite advantage, and especially so where the fabric to be stretched is of unequal length along its side edges. Pins 35 and 36 are adapted to pass through T- shaped members 3l and 32 and engage corresponding openings 3l and 38 at suitably spaced intervals along the length of arm members 'I and 8. This spacing in preferred construction is approximately in the range of from one to one and one half inches to permit moderate variations in stretching to be accomplished without changing the point of hooking the fabric on the pins. A plurality of anchoring pins 39 are mounted on hollow tube 3, and preferably inclined backward in the range from 5 to 45 as diagrammatically shown, in order to facilitate freedom from disengagement of the fabric during the stretching operation. Considerable latitude in spacing of pins 33 is permissible so long as satisfactory anchoring of the fabric to be stretched is obtained, and for most purposes spacing in the range of from one to four inches suffices, although three inch spacing meets most requirements. A stifening member 40 may be fastened to hollow tube 30, for instance by means of rivets 4I, in order to resist bending of slidable crossbar 3 under fabric stretching conditions. The stiffening member 40 for convenience may be made of wood or any other suitable material.

In order to avoid danger of injury due to accidental contact with the points of pins 33, a pin shield 42 may be used. For convenience this shield may be joined to stiffening member 43 by means of hinge 43, which permits the pin shield 42 to be swung back out of the way, as shown in dotted lines, during the time when a piece of fabric, such as a rug, is being mounted on pins 39. Any convenient means for holding pin shield 42 in shielding position may be utilized, and one of the simplest forms of apparatus for this purpose consists of a spring latch 44, at one or both ends of pin shield 42, and adapted to engage a latch pin 45 mounted on the back of stilfening member 40 as shown in Figure 6.

The placing of the pin shield in shielding position also aids in restraining the rug securing means against accidental release of the rug under stretching conditions, and the backward inclining of the pins as described as Well as the means for anchoring the'pin carrier against rotation, which would move the pins from rug holding position, form other means of restraining the rug securing means against accidental release of the rug.

The T-shaped members 3l and 32 instead of utilizing removable pins 35 and 36, may be made of modied construction as shown in longitudinal section in Figure 5. The T-shaped member 46, in this construction, has a latch pin opening 41 adapted to receive and closely t a latch pin 48 having an inclined face 49 lon the portion of the latch pin which projects into the longitudinal bore 50 of the T-shaped member. The upper end of latch pin 48 is suitably anchored to a spring member I near one end thereof. The other end of this spring member may be fastened to T- shaped member 46 in any conventional manner, for instance by means of a rivet 52. For convenience of manipulation, spring member 5I may be provided with gripping ring 53 at the latch pin end thereof. In actual use of this T-shaped member on the ends of slidable crossbar 9, the latch pin 48 will be installed with its sloping face 49 so as to latch and prevent slidable crossbar 9 from moving toward hinges 2 and 3 under rug stretching operation, and yet permit the crossbar to be moved away from hinges 2 and 3 for adjustment to longer rugs, and without the necessity of manually lifting latch pins 48 by means of gripping ring 53. This type of construction facilitates the rapidity with which the fabric stretching frame may be adjusted to different length rugs, or the like, which are to be stretche thereon. f

The stretching action of the fabric stretching frame is obtained by means of toggle action gained through holding one end of the apparatus, for instance that containing slidable crossbar 9, in relatively fixed position while the other end of the apparatus, for instance the U-shaped assembly 6, is moved downward to bring the whole assembly substantially into a common plane. As shown in Figure l, the end crossbar 54 of U-shaped assembly 6 is provided with a plurality of anchoring pins 55 on which the fabric to be stretched may be anchored. For purposes of rigidity, end crossbar 54 may have mounted thereon a suitable stiifening member 56 which, for convenience, may be similar to or of the same construction as stiffening member 40 shown in Figure 6. A pin shield 51 is also preferably used to prevent accidental injury, and this pin shield may be conventionally mounted on hinges and provided with latching members of conventional construction.

To support U-shaped assembly 6 in inclined position during the fastening of a piece of fabric thereto preparatory to stretching, supporting legs 58 and 59 may be utilized. These legs are preferably pivotally mounted on stilfening member 56 by means of pivot pins 69 and 6I of conventional construction. When the U-shaped assembly 6 is to be moved downward for stretching the fabric joined thereto, sup-porting legs 58 and 59 are swung up out of the way, and may be held in that position by means of a suitable latch member 62.

A modified form of a portion of the U-shaped assembly 6 is shown in Figure 7. The end crossbar 54 is here provided with and joined to a metal stifening member 56a on which is mounted a pin shield 51a by means of hinge 63. A spring latch 64 engaging a latch pin 68 may be used at one or both ends of pin shield 51a if desired.

Supporting leg 58a may be in the form of a U- shaped member having a forked upper end 65 pivotally joined to arm 4a by means of a suitable pivot pin 66. In folded position, a supporting leg of this type will encase a portion of the under edge of the arm on which it is mounted. While for convenience of illustration, only one side of the U-shaped assembly has been shown in Figure 7, it is to be understood that the invention will preferably involve the use of a supporting leg at each side of the frame to stabilize same, and the showing in Figure '1 is intended to diagrammatically illustrate such construction.

In actual rug stretching practice, it is normally desirable that one employee be able to take a rug and carry out the various steps of stretching same without calling upon other employees for aid. To facilitate this, a pair of strap anchors 66 and 61 may be fastened to the floor in conventional manner and at suitable spacing so that the free end of each arm 'I and 8 may be passed thereunder to hold same against upward movement during the stretching procedure. With the fabric stretching frame thus in place, it is ready to have a piece of fabric, for instance a rug, mounted thereon for stretching.

The rug stretching procedure is as follows: The free ends of extending arms 1 and 8 are first placed under strap anchors 66 and 61, and then pin shield 42 on slidable crossbar 9 is turned back to expose the points of anchoring pins 39. The washed rug is then laid lengthwise over the rug stretching frame and the end of the rug pressed down over these pins approximately one or two inches from the end edge thereof, and pin shield 42 returned to shielding position. Latching dogs I 1 and I8 of the hinges 2 and 3 are then retracted and the end of U-shaped assembly 6 elevated to the position shown in Figure 1, with supporting legs 58 and 59 lowered to hold the U-shaped assembly in elevated position. Pin

shield 51 is then turned back to expose the points of anchoring pins 55. The end of the rug opposite to that originally fastened is then pressed down, approximately one to two inches from the end thereof, over these pins to anchor same in place, following which pin shield 51 is returned to protecting position. Arms 1 and 8 of the rug stretching frame may be suitably graduated to indicate the approximate length that the rug will be stretched to for any particular setting of slidable crossbar 9. These graduations are then taken into consideration, along with the standard size of the rug, and its actual length in the wet condition which it is in at the time of stretching which immediately follows the washing procedure. These considerations will indicate in general whether the rug can be stretched back to normal size or not. Adjustable crossbar 9 is then adjusted lengthwise of the frame and anchored at the point which the employee believes is proper for the initial stretching step. Supporting legs 58 and 59 are then folded out of the way, and the end of the U-shaped assembly 6 forced downward with due regard to the stretching capability of the rug. If the rug comes back to full normal size at the first setting and stretch, then it is left at that position, whereupon the steps of sizing and drying of the rug may take place. It is to be noted at this point that where the rug is to be sized, it is placed on the stretching frame with its back face upward. If it appears as the stretching proceeds that the rug will not stretch to the size that the frame has been adjusted to; the U-shaped end assembly 6 is again elevated and supported on legs 58 and 59, whereupon the slidable crossbar 9 is relocated to meet the situation, and then the end of the U-shaped assembly 6 is `again moved down to stretch the rug. On the other hand, if it appears that the initial setting of slidable crossbar 9 will not give the rug sufficient stretch upon downward movement of the end of the U-shaped assembly 6, then slidable crossbar 9 will be readjusted so that in final position the desired stretch will be obtained. In fact, where a rug has abnormally shrunk, this shrinkage may be gradually reclaimed by stretching the rug so as to take up part of the shrinkage, following which it may be lightly beaten with a suitable rod or the like, whereupon the end of the U-shaped assembly 6 may be elevated and slidable crossbar 9 readjusted to take up the slack which has been obtained due to the beating treatment. The end of the U-shaped assembly 6 is then again forced down and automatically anchored in place by means of locking dogs Il and I8 in hinge members 2 and 3 at the end of the downward movement. These locking dogs are preferably locked in unlatched position when the end of U-shaped assembly is elevated, and then released when said end is to be lowered so that they will automatically lock at the proper time. This procedure stretches the rug warp evenly, loosens the pack pile, and permits the sizing to penetrate the warp much better than is otherwise possible. This stretching also permits the rug to dry faster since access of air into the rug is more freely obtained. After the rug has been stretchedy and sized if desired, the

stretching frame With rug thereon may be placed in drying racks or otherwise handled as desired during the period in which the rug is dried.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A toggle action fabric stretcher, which comprises a substantially U-shaped assembly having an end member and substantially equal length arms xedly joined to said end member, anchoring pins at spaced intervals along the upper edge of said end member, a pin shield for the points of said anchoring pins, releaseable means for positive locking of said pin shield over said pins, a pair of hinges, one of said hinges being xedly mounted on the end of one of said arm members and the other of said hinges being fixedly mounted on the end of the other of said arm members, a pair of extending arms, said extending arms being iixedly anchored to said hinges and acting as extensions of said first named arms, said hinges permitting said substantially U-`shaped assembly to hingedly move relative to said extending arms for toggle action fabric stretching, a crossbar, substantially T-shaped members anchored to the ends of said crossbar, and adapted to slidably receive said extending arms, means for adjustably anchoring said crossbar to said extending arms, anchoring pins at spaced intervals extending upward from said crossbar', a pin shield for the points of said anchoring pins, and releaseable means for positive locking of said pin shield over said pms.

2. A fabric stretching frame, which comprises an end member, a pair of substantially parallel side arm members ixedly connected in spaced apart position to said end member, anchoring pins at spaced intervals along the upper edge of said end member, a pin shield for the points of said anchoring pins, a hinge means for said pin shield, a pair of hinges, one of said hinges being fixedly mounted on the end of one of said arm members, and the other of said hinges being xedly mounted on the end of the other of said arm members, a pair of extending arms, said extending arms being flxedly anchored to said hinges and acting as extensions of said first named arms, said hinges permitting said assembly of arms and end member to hingedly move relative to said extending arms, a locking means on each of said hinges for automatically locking same against hinging action when a prescribed locking point is reached, means for unlocking each of said hinge locking means when in locking position, means for releaseably holding said hinge locking means in unlocked position, a crossbar comprising a member having substantially T-shaped members anchored to its ends and adapted to slidably receive said extending arms, anchoring pins at spaced intervals extending upward from said crossbar, a pin shield for the points of said anchoring pins, a hinge means for said pin shield, and means for adjustably anchoring said crossbar in said extending arms, said assembly being operative to stretch a piece of fabric by fastening the full Width of the ends thereof on said end and crossbar members and then by pivotal movement of said arms increasing the distance between said end and crossbar members to the desired extent and holding same in that position.

3. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular fabric stretcher frame comprising a pair of crossbars respectively provided With arms projecting from the ends thereof in parallel relationship, means for adjusting the location of one of said crossbars lengthwise of said arms on which it is mounted, means pivotally connecting each of said arms on one of said crossbars in operable manner to a corresponding arm on the other of said crossbars, supporting means for one of said crossbars for holding same with its said connected arms in angularly disposed relation to the corresponding arms connected to the other crossbar, fabric securing means on each of said crossbars engagable with the fabric to be stretched, the engagement of the second end of said fabric normally taking place after said connected arms have been moved into angularly disposed relation and supported on said supporting means, means for automatically locking said hinges in prescribed fabric stretching position, and means for unlocking said hinge locking means, said assembly being operative to stretch the fabric engaged by said securing means upon folding said supporting means followed by relative pivotal movement of said arms, said movement increasing the distance between said crossbars to the point where saidhinges are normally automatically locked.

e. A toggle action rug stretcher, which comrises a substantially U-shaped assembly having an end member and substantially equal length arms xedly joined to said end member, means for securing one end of a rug to the end member, a pair of hinges, one of said hinges being iixedly mounted 0n the end of one of said arm members and the other of said' hinges being xedly mounted on the end of the other of said members, a pair of extending arms, said extending arms being xedly anchored to said hinges and acting as extensions of said first named arms, said hinges permitting said substantially U-shaped assembly to hingedly move relative to said extending arms for toggle action rug stretching, a crossbar adjustably mounted at its ends on the extending arms for movements longitudinally thereof, means for securing the other end of the rug to the last named crossbar, and means for restraining the rug securing means against accidental release.

5. A rug stretching frame, which comprises an end member, a pair of substantially parallel side arm members xedly connected in spaced apart position to said end member, means for securing one end of a rug to the end member, a pair of hinges, one of said hinges being xedly mounted on the end of one of said arm members, and the other of said hinges being xedly mounted on the end of the other of said arm members, a pair of extending arms, said extending arms being iixedly anchored to said hinges and acting as extensions of said rst named arms, said hinges permitting said assembly of arms and end member to hingedly move relative to said extending arms, a locking means on each of said hinges for automatically locking same against hinging action when a prescribed locking point is reached, means for unlocking each of said hinge locking means when in locking position, means for releasably holding said hinge locking means in unlocked position, a crossbar comprising a member adjustably mounted at its ends on the extending arms for movements longitudinally thereof, means for securing the other end of the rug to the last named crossbar, means for restraining the rug securing means against accidental release, and means for adjustably anchoring said crossbar to said extending arms, said assembly being operative to stretch a rug by fastening the full width of the ends thereof on said end and crossbar members and then by pivotal movement of said arms increasing the distan-ce between said end and crossbar members to the desired extent and holding same in that position.

- ALVIN R. WADE. 

